Board Brief - 05.20.24

A quorum of the Pecos-Barstow-Toyah ISD Board of Trustees met for a Regular Board Meeting on May 20, 2024 at 6:30 p.m. in the PBTISD Board Room. The following items were presented, discussed, acted upon or approved.

On May 4, 2024, AlexAndrea Zamarripa and Jesus Orosco were elected to the PBTISD Board of Trustees. Both will serve 3-year terms on the Board of Trustees. Read more here.

With the induction of the elected trustees, the board reorganized officers. The board unanimously re-elected AlexAndrea Zamarripa as President and Amanda Kington as Vice President. Becky Gonzales was additionally re-elected to to the secretary position..

Strategy III, Result 1: Showcase students and staff throughout the District.

Congratulations to the Class of 2024's Valedictorian Bryant Le and Salutatorian Jose Perez.

Congratulations to the following Teachers of the Year at their respective campus:

• Austin Elementary: Jeselle Albores

• Zavala Elementary: Kalyn Salgado

• Crockett Middle School: Jimmy Leonard

• Pecos High School: Anna Dutchover

Congratulations to PBTISD Elementary Teacher of the Year, Jeselle Albores and Secondary Teacher of the Year, Anna Dutchover!

Individuals who wish to participate during the portion of the meeting designated for public comment shall sign up with the presiding officer or designee before the meeting begins as specified in the Board's procedures on public comment. BED(LOCAL)

• Louise Moore - Community Comment

Items approved 7-0

View Minutes here.

View Minutes here.

• Solution Tree Conference (addition to contract)

Each year, delinquent tax properties are offered for sale through a public sale. If no offers are received, those properties are placed in Trust to the taxing entities, with the largest taxing entity granted ‘Trustee’ or ‘Grantee’ capacity. Trustee or Grantee designation allows for that taxing entity to offer those properties for sale. This resolution authorizes the Superintendent to sell the property and report the results to the board.

In October 2023, Pecos was hit with a hail storm that resulted in extensive damage to our facilities. The damages to our facilities resulted in the district receiving an insurance settlement claim for $14,053,298.97. The determination to repair other existing facilities will be based on the overall damage and whether the facility is being demolished and replaced during the construction. All roof repairs/replacement will be complete before school starts in August 2024.

Similar to the construction or renovation of school facilities, it is advantageous to the district to contract with an independent engineering firm to serve as the district’s representative for our roofing projects that resulted from hail damage.

PBTISD provides meals for all students regulated under the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) through the USDA. Districts are required by the National School Lunch Program to set Child Nutrition Prices, although meals are offered for free to students.

The Discovery School will operate year-round starting in July 2024, with hours from 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Those enrolling their children will commit to 12 months (year-round) unless they resign from the district.

PBTISD operates an Open Enrollment Pre-Kindergarten program, which means that, as a district, we enroll students who meet the state eligibility requirements and children who do not meet the state eligibility requirements. The administration recommends that the board approve a $0.00 tuition rate for non-eligible PreK students for the 2024-2025 school year.

For the last few years, the district has allowed teachers to be reimbursed for purchases they make to support their classroom and students. Teachers and Counselors will be provided up to a $400 reimbursable allotment, including sales tax, to buy supplies for their classroom as they prepare for the start of the 2024-2025 school year.

With 75% of our students socially and economically disadvantaged, they and others need appropriate supplies to start the school year. Last school year, the district purchased school supplies for all students, which our parents and teachers greatly appreciated.

In the aftermath of the Uvalde school shooting, the Texas Education Agency (TEA) proposed new school safety standards, including security film installations. The TEA has now adopted a final rule regarding those proposed standards. The TEA Final Rule provides a multifaceted framework for Texas public schools to add safety measures, including a requirement for exterior doors containing glass and exterior ground-level windows that could permit entry to be modified/reinforced with, for example, forced entry-resistant film.

Pulled by Trustee Orosco.

Approved 7-0

The monthly financial update consisted of a Schedule of Appropriations and expenditures.

Pulled by Trustee Orosco.

Approved 7-0

Upon passing the 2021 Bond, local joint entities expressed an interest in partnering with the district’s daycare. Discussions were held with the Board, and a decision was made to expand the scope of services for the district’s Discovery School childcare services to Reeves County and Town of Pecos City employees. The Discovery School will expand and become a year-round facility that supports our youngest learners, ages six weeks to three years old. The hours of operation will be 6:30 AM to 7:30 PM, and the campus will be open 245 days a year.

Approved 7-0

• Student Outcome Goal 1: The percentage of 3rd grade students who score meets grade level or above on STAAR Reading will increase from 32% to 52% by August 2027. (2024 Goal = 40%)

• Student Outcome Goal 2: The percentage of 3rd grade students who score meets grade level or above on STAAR Math will increase from 28% to 43% by August 2027. (2024 Goal = 34%)

Approved 7-0

Superintendent Constraint #2 - The Superintendent shall not allow the collaborative partnership between home, school, and community to deteriorate.

• Constraint Progress Measure 2a - An administrative report on community communications will increase from 0 per year in June 2023 to 2 per year by August 2025.

Trustee Orosco motioned for the Board to Discuss the item in Executive Session.

Board Constraint #2: The board shall not be involved in day-to-day operations.

7:32 p.m.

EXECUTIVE SESSION may be called for the purposes permitted by the Texas Open Meeting Act, Texas Government Code Section 551.001 through 551.146, Section 551.071 Consultation with Attorney, Section 551.072 Real Property, 551.074 Personnel Matters (Appointment, Employment, Evaluation, Reassignment, Duties, Discipline, Dismissal, Complaint)

• Discuss Personnel

• Discuss recommendations for Assistant Principals at Crockett Middle School and Zavala Elementary
  
• Discuss recommendations for Curriculum Coordinators
  

• Consider and possible action to approve Board constraint 2 (The board shall not be involved in day-to-day operations.) (Approved 7-0)
  
• Consider and possible action to hire Assistant Principals for
• Crockett Middle School (Approved 7-0)
• Zavala Elementary (Approved 5-2)
• Consider and possible action to hire Curriculum Coordinators
  
• Curriculum Coordinator 1 (Approved 7-0)
• Curriculum Coordinator 2 (Approved 7-0)

The Board adjourned at 8:46 p.m. on May 20, 2024.

Future Meeting Dates:

• Board Workshop (New Trustee Orientation) - June 3, 2024, at 6:30 PM
• Regular Meeting - June 17, 2024, at 6:30 PM

This newsletter is in line with Strategy III: We will broaden and strengthen partnerships with staff, families, and communities through transparency and effective communication.